Adults in England have to show Covid passes to enter large events after parliament approved the measure on Tuesday.
Over-18s must show a Covid pass or a recent negative test as a condition of entry to nightclubs, indoor crowded venues with a capacity of more than 500, outdoor events of 4,000 or more and any event with a capacity of more than 10,000 people.
The Covid pass measures came into law despite a large Tory rebellion, which saw 98 Conservative MPs vote against the government. The government had to rely on Labour votes to pass the measures.
MPs also backed mandatory mask-wearing in most indoor settings and compulsory vaccination for NHS workers in England.
The abolition of self-isolation for fully vaccinated Covid contacts – in favour of daily lateral flow tests – was passed without a vote.
The rebellion on Covid passes was the biggest since Boris Johnson became prime minister – and the second largest Tory rebellion in history. The size of the rebellion calls into question the prime minister’s ability to pass further measures to limit the effect of the Omicron variant, should they be needed.
Tory rebel and former chief whip Mark Harper said: “You either listen and you respond and you do things differently – or you ignore what you have been told and you plough on regardless, and then this will happen over and over again.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the rebellion was a “very significant blow” to Johnson’s authority.
“It confirms that he’s too weak to discharge the basic functions of government,” he added.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC he believed that the measures now in place would be enough to control the effects of Omicron, but if there was a need for additional restrictions, then Parliament would be recalled.
He said: “If more measures were required, then of course the house would be recalled and those measures would be put to the house. But I don’t think that’s going to need to happen this year.”
Currently, there is only the need for two vaccinations to use the Covid pass – but this could rise to three vaccinations as early as next month, according to health secretary Sajid Javid.
Anyone attempting to fake Covid passes or test results could be issued with a fixed penalty notice at a cost of £10,000 for a first offence.
And venues are also required to check every person admitted to the event or venue, unless they get approval from councils in advance to carry out spot checks instead.
Venues and businesses in breach of the rules on checks could be fined £1,000 in the first instance, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days. Further offences lead to increased fines of up to £10,000 for fourth offences.
Businesses must also keep records on the checks they have carried out for at least three months after events.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
